E.J. Wozniak - Lumen and the Thistle

Dedicated to the youth looking to make a change in the world. Find your lights and follow them.

Chapter 1 - Twelve Years Prior

T here they stood underneath a sky set on fire. Seemingly on the edge of the world stood three men. On one side, a steep and snowy mountain. The other, a jutting glacier. Below, mauve foggy ice atop a massive glacier. Above, a sky ready to explode at the command of the man with a long green trench coat, swimming with orange and maroon clouds. His hair, a strong pepper color with just the slightest amount of salt starting to appear. The other two men stood at what they thought was a safe distance from the man with the green trench coat.

Jaxson, what are you doing here? the man in the green trench coat said to the one standing with a black gown and hood. The hood covered most of his face. On his side was a waist high stick, one with intricate carvings and words. He removed the hood to reveal his snide face. He smiled wide and looked to the third man there, looking for support or comfort.

Dont you worry about Jaxson, Al. He has chosen the correct side. I know this must hurt to have had someone so close to you turn their back on you. But Jackson lived in the real world. He lived on Earth. He has seen what has become of our work. What everyday humans are doing to it. They must be stopped. Jaxson sees that, why cant you? the third man said, his voice echoing over the vast sheet of ice they stood on.

Al, more famously known as Allister Alvetande, combed his beard with his fingers as he pondered an answer, never taking his eyes off the third man. That man stood with his hands behind his back, a bulky, black denim coat, wolf gray pants, and snow boots. The smile under his tight, thick, graying beard hardly wavered. His wrinkled eyes glimmered, a glimmer that made him look more approachable than a man who was as ruthless as he was.

Maldeus, I commend you for taking a problem like this on. It is...admirable in a way. But it is not right. We are not gods. We are creators, ones that create for the people of Earth to do with however they please. It isnt our place to dictate over them, Allister bestowed over the ice in a much calmer manner given the predicament they were in.

Creators? Isnt that what gods are? We created the environment. We control the weather, we shift those tectonic plates, we control the currents in the oceans, we protect the Earth from harmful rays with our once glorious majestas, now a position destined for a woman or man who will undoubtedly become ill from the pollution. Dont you see? We are almsgivers to those pathetic and needy humans! They plunder from the beautiful lands we created, pollute the airs and waters, and dirty almost everything we have created! We must take it back, rid them from the land we created. Let the land heal. At the very least, we should be dictating over them, it is the only way, Maldeus said passionately, veins popping from his neck and forehead and his fists clenched in front of him. Jaxson stood close by, nodding his head in agreement.

We have Bonumalus, Maldeus. That is our realm. That is where we thrive. Earth is our place of work, not our home, Allister said with the same calming tone. Maldeus shook his head and put his fists at his sides and they lit aflame. Allister looked at those fists of fire but remained calm and addressed Jaxson.

Son, this is not your way. You have a young boy. You have a wife and child to care for. This is not the life you should lead. It wont end well for you, Allister said, looking directly at Jaxson. He must have felt ashamed, not able to look at Allister directly, his pale cheeks turning a rosy red. Allister continued.

Water, fire, earth, and air. The four elements can work together to create a plan to address this in a safer manner. One where no one must die. One where we dont become de facto gods over helpless people. The four elements... Allister was cut off by an angry Jaxson.

Five elements, Allister. You always seem to forget the lights, the very means of our travel! Jaxson yelled.

Of course not, Jax. Your work with the lights has been extraordinary. The luxem was a brilliant creation. Being able to store the lights to use in a moment of danger is one of the best inventions out of Bonumalus in the past hundred years.

I know, and its a shame that it will be of no use for future generations. Yes, I have a small boy. And I love my wife. But this is a mission I must embark on, Al. I have lived on Earth. I have seen firsthand what is happening. How could I, in my right mind, allow that to continue? What does that make me if I raise a family while standing by? Allowing my family, as well as millions of others, to live in such a destructive manner, Jaxson said, his fists also on fire.

Allister continued standing there with a calm demeanor.

Last chance, Allister. This civil war ends now, Maldeus said as he readied himself to attack, raising his fists while the flames seemed to get stronger.

Allister combed his beard with his fingers twice more and slowly lowered the goggles over his eyes that were holding back his pepper hair. He flicked both his wrists at his sides and balls of water appeared.

If you say so.

He thrust his hands out and a massive stream of ice and water jetted towards Maldeus. Maldeus also thrusted his hands forward and a stream of fire met Allister's ice. Jaxson readied himself to send his own attack on Allister. Allister stomped his left foot once, forcing the ice to rise in rapid succession towards Jax, flinging him into the air. Allister flicked his left wrist and Jax was hit by what appeared to be only the air. Jax and his carved staff were sent flying over the ice, landing, and sliding away from the battle.

This all you got? This is what the great Allister Alvetande has to offer? Maldeus bellowed with a hearty laugh. He then looked to his left at the nearby mountain. He removed his left hand from the stream he was sending at Allister, held it up in the direction of the mountain, clenched his fist and pulled down. The mountain immediately began to crumble, sending a landslide of massive rocks and boulders at Allister. Al waved an arm and panels of floating lights appeared on his mountain side. When the boulders met the lights, they went through them, disappearing momentarily. Allister waved his arm again and lights appeared above Maldeuss head and the rocks began pouring down. Maldeus held up an arm and the rocks began hitting an invisible shield of air.

An auraclip, very nice, Allister said calmly over the jetting streams of ice and fire and crumbling rock.